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Dan Brown/Independent
Tori Singletary continues to hit at as blistering pace, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.

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Dan Brown/Independent
Lexi Samples spearheads the Lady Stags offense in the leadoff spot, one of three Berkeley seniors.

Like a coiled cobra these Lady Stags are lethal. Once they strike, defeat quickly follows.

Riding a 3-for-3 Tori Singletary plate performance and Brooklyn Stone’s no-hitter, Berkeley successfully defended its Region 8AAA championship on Thursday, April 24, becoming the first softball team in school history to accomplish such a feat.

“Berkeley won their first softball region championship in 2006 and that was a tremendous accomplishment, but nobody has accomplished what these girls accomplished and we’re just getting started,” said Coach Boogie Grooms. “These girls are young, and they are hungry.”

That is a warning to the rest of Class AAA as the state playoffs begin on Friday May 2.

Singletary had three hits, A nine-run second inning floored the visiting Sea Hawks as 14 hitters went to the plate.

“We were flat in the Azalea tournament and I got on them about that,” Grooms said. “But they learned from that experience and came out hungry these last four games. The little things in softball will produce big results.”

Junior Blake Ponder continued her torrid hitting for the season, lacing two hits, scoring two runs and driving in two in the three-inning onslaught.

“We worked hard for this and it’s so fun to win another region championship with my teammates,” Ponder said.

Her coach had nothing but praise for his catcher.

“We brought Blake in from third to learn this new position because we didn’t have anyone else to catch,” he said. “She came in and was a workhorse behind the plate and handled our pitchers. Blake has been our best and most consistent hitter this year. She has been hot all year.”

Grooms believes his team is getting hot at the right time. The Lady Stags have not allowed a run since the Azalea Tournament, outscoring their region opponents 46-0 in just nine innings of play.

“I think we’ll see some very good things from these girls,” he said.

They’re hungry, and these Lady Stags want to eat.

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